Happy Birthday, Mary Lou Retton!

By espnW | Jan 24, 2014

AP Photo

At just 16, Mary Lou Retton became an international superstar after taking home five medals at the 1984 Olympics.

Happy birthday, Mary Lou Retton! The iconic gymnast turns 46 today. The West Virginia native vaulted her way into stardom -- literally -- when she became the first female gymnast from outside of Eastern Europe to take home the all-around gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The then 16-year old took home a total of five medals from Los Angeles, including a silver medal in the team competition and a silver medal on the vault. Her accomplishments earned her Sports Illustrated’s “Sportswoman of the Year” honors and an endorsement with Wheaties in which she became the legendary cereal brand’s first spokesperson. Retton retired from the sport in 1985 but has remained in the public eye ever since as a frequent gymnastics analyst and through other media appearances. She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. Today she lives in Houston with her husband (former Texas quarterback Shannon Kelley) and their four daughters.